Jackson Park

This is a sketch plan for a design for Jackson Park, next to the historic courthouse in downtown Charlottesville. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a block called McKee's Row on this site, with dwellings and shops. At one time it was a thriving African-American neighborhood. In the early 20th century, the block was systematically bought up by a Charlottesville citizen and donated to the city to create a park. An imposing equestrian statue of Stonewall Jackson is the focal point of the park. Another "generic" Civil War soldier statue is positioned in front of the courthouse.

I am interested in what stories are being told, and what stories were silenced, on this site. As a civic center of Charlottesville, this site represents the identity of Charlottesville to its residents and to visitors. What else could this site say about the history of Charlottesville, beyond recognizing Civil War heroes?

I am proposing to reveal the footprints of the buildings on the old McKee's Row, with plants that flower briefly in spring. There would be a short time when the footprints are visible, once again present on this site, a colorful layer of the past blooming at the surface. The flowers then fade and the footprints disappear for another year.

When the flowers are blooming, one senses that another logic is at work. The footprints act as an alternative structure to the site that produces strange juxtapositions with the existing park paths, and especially, the statue. Jackson appears in a field of flowers, as though transported into a new place.

studio guest

recognize him?

This is an idea about a curtain that could store roof water for the vertical gardens... work in progress.

bark

Learning plants before they leaf out is a challenge. But, I do feel like I am starting to look more carefully, and to recognize the qualities of buds, form, and bark.

Here are a few from this week's plants: arborvitae, London Planetree, Kentucky Coffeetree, and Honey Locust.

The Week of 100 Drawings

our class "exhibit"


my drawings

The week after spring break we had a studio assignment that our professor called "The Week of 100 Drawings." The drawings were to explore our studio project in all sorts of ways-- plans, sections, diagrams, sun studies, models-- to consider as many aspects of and possibilities for the project that we could.

I was intimidated by the "100" number, so they didn't flow so easily, but in the end I think this week helped me to define the issues that I am exploring: how vertical gardens can connect inside and outside, how they can be extensions of public and private space, how they shape the street volume, and how they work as systems (ie water collection and use).

Richmond trip

Our plants class took a trip to Richmond this past week to talk to a city arborist and a city planner. The arborist is here in the green hat-- our plants prof is in the maroon jacket, my studio prof from last semester in the white coat. (I didn't realize until later, but this view reminds me of Vulcan!)

Both the arborist and planner had very interesting things to say on the realities of the work they do-- for example, the difficulty of getting needed resources in order to be proactive instead of mostly reactive. It made me think about how important education is in giving people a lifelong sense of the value of our environment and living systems. That is really what can help people choose, as adults, that rivers and trees are worth their tax money!

Our trip was capped with a DELICIOUS Italian meal at a place called Mama Zu's. The service was not friendly, but the food was great-- rockfish, penne carbonara, spicy sausage, oh my... It was like having another night of spring vacation! Here is a funny bear-gardener painting from the restaurant.

48 hours, 4 landscapes

On Sunday and Monday I led myself on a mini-landscape tour of Manhattan. I was prepared with addresses and maps, long underwear and a camera, and trekked through Battery Park and Midtown.

I began at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park city. On the western edge is South Cove, a landscape project designed by a team including artist Mary Miss. The project has a sculptural sensibility that created connections to the sky (the tower, from where I took the photo) and the water (the boardwalk and piers).



At the northern edge of Battery Park, Michael Van Valkenburgh's Teardrop Park is nestled between high-rise residential buildings. This park was a revelation-- the materials, forms, and planting palette make you stop to look, smile, and wonder. There was a lot of inventiveness with the ground plane and walls-- the planting beds rise up so that the visitor is walking through them, not just past them. Stacked local stone forms walls throughout the park as well as the stunning, tall "ice wall" that seeps water. The ice wall made my jaw drop! See the walking man for scale.

Local geology and native plants are a running theme in the park, which is also planted with beautiful witch hazels (in bloom now), birch, and hydrangea. I was also struck by the elegance of the play spaces-- while it was too cold to observe any families in action, these seemed to be places for young and old(er) to enjoy together.









It snowed on Sunday night and through Monday afternoon. The New York City public schools had their first snow day in 5 years! There were a fair amount of families, tourists, and locals enjoying the snowy morning in Central Park, despite the cold and ice.



The last stop on my landscape tour was Paley Park, a small "pocket park" on 53rd St. between Madison and 5th. I have seen so many photos of this iconic park (and read about it in the writing of William Whyte), I felt a lot of anticipation as I turned the corner. It was a real treat to visit during the quiet and whiteness of the snow-- quite different from the buzz of a sunny day.

The park is elegant in its simplicity-- the ground, walls, and ceiling work to define a space of calm within the city. The ground is defined by small square stone pavers, setting an intimate scale at ground level. Two walls are covered with lush ivy and the third with a very tall waterfall. I have read that people perceive this park to be quiet-- in reality the waterfall is quite loud, but it blocks other city noises. The small tables and airy chairs lend lightness and intimacy. The few locust trees have a sculptural effect, shaping a volume of air and suggesting a ceiling for this outdoor room.

spring break: eating with friends

One of the joys of free time is eating good food with good friends. On my recent trip I had the pleasure of the company of:

-Mika and Dan at their apartment in Harlem (with Zoe the kitten),
-Raquel at the absolutely delicious B and H deli in the Village, and
-Fiona at a conveyor-belt sushi place in DC.

mmmmmm! thanks everyone-- I look forward to the next time.